Exercises for /ʊ/ and /u:/

1. Moving up, down, left or right, follow the words with the /ʊ/ sounds. Then listen to the MP3 (8a) and
practice saying the words.

start book push played printer boxing break galaxy zebra blend

move good pull fan juice plants football couldn’t wood finish

cream phone took green city office would president friend

player was put shook cooking smooth full point racing

making funny words China looked should sugar choose follow

2. Write the correct number above the words in blue. Does the word contain the sound 1 /ʊ/ or 2 /u:/?
Listen to the MP3 (8b) and write which sound you hear. Underline the part of the word with this sound.

John: Let’s look at the menu. What would you like to have?

1
George: I shouldn’t have too much food because I’m on a diet. I’ll have the slow-cooked beef.

2
John: Sounds good! I’ll go for the soup for starters, the steak for main, and blueberry pie for dessert.

George: That’s not nice! I’m going to be looking at you eating all that tasty food.

John: Well, I’m not on a diet. So I can eat whatever I choose!

3. Listen to the MP3 (8c) and circle which word you hear.

a) look Luke
b) could cooed
c) pull pool
d) hood who’d
e) full fool

4. Record yourself saying the words in sections 1 and 3, and the passage in section 2. Listen to your
recording again in a few days. Can you clearly hear the two target sounds you studied?

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